Carbon copying device.



No. 679,222 Patented Aug. 6,1901.

L. a w. n. CALHOUN.

CARBON COPYING DEVICE.

(Applicb-tion filed m 3,1900.) 2 Sheets-Shoot l.

(N0 Medial.)

All "IN I WWI- No. 679,722. Patented Aug. 6, I90l.

J. L. &. W. H. CALHOUN. cnnsou com/m6 DEVICE.

(Application filed Dec. 3, 1900. (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES L. CALHOUN AND WILLIAM H. CALHOUN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CARBON COPYING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION formingpart-of Letters Patent No. 679,722, dated August 6, 1901. Application filed December 3, 1900. Serial No. 38,424. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JAMES L. CALHOUN and WILLIAM H. CALHOUN, citizens of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Carbon Copying Device, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a carbon copying device.

The object of the invention is to provide an apparatus which is simple in construction and eificient in operation for making and preserving carbon copies of way-bills, bills of lading, letters, and the like.

- The invention consists substantially in the construction, combination, location, and arrangement of parts, all'as will be more fully hereinafter set forth, as shown in the accompanying drawings, and finally pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings and to the various views and reference-signs appearing thereon, Figure 1 is a plan view of a carbon copy device embodying the principle of our invention. Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3 3, Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 4 is a transverse sect-ion on the line t 4, Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 5 is a side view.

The same part is designated by the same reference-sign Wherever itoccurs throughout the several views.

Reference-sign A designates a suitable table having a depressed seat B in the upper surface thereof. At the front and rear edges of said seat are provided passages or openings through the table, as indicated at O D, Fig. 4, the surface of the seat or depression B being beveled or cut away, as at E, as clearly shown. Similarly at the respective ends of the seat or depression B are provided openings or passages F G. (See Fig. 3.) Adjacent to the front and rear edges of the seat or depression B and in convenient relation to the slits or openings 0 D, respectively, are provided hangers H. In hangers H are journaled rolls J K, one of said rolls having wound thereon a strip or sheetof suitable record-paper and constituting a supply-roll, the other of said rolls being adapted to receive such strip of record-paper and to wind the same thereon from. said supply-roll and constituting a receiving-roll for such strip.

The strip of record-paper is indicated by reference-sign L, said strip being led from roll K through the slot or opening C, over the depressed seatB of table A, overthe beveled surface E, through slit or opening D to and upon receivingroll J. Any suitable means may be provided for actuating the receiving roll to efiect a winding thereupon and from the supply-roll K of the strip of record-paper. A simple and convenient arrangement is shown, wherein a pinion M is mounted upon the end of roll J or upon the end of the shaft thereof, with which pinion engages a gear N, suitably mounted and supported by a bracket H. Pivotally supported upon the axle of gear N is a hand-lever 0, upon which is mounted a pivoted pawl P, arranged to engage the gear N. Thus when lever O is swung in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 5 and from the position thereof as shown in said Fig. 5 the pawl P, engaging gear N, efiects a rotative movement of said gear, thereby imparting to pinion M a rotation in a direction to effect a winding of the record sheet or strip upon roll J and from roll K.

If desired and in order to regulate the extent of rotation of roll J, thereby regulating the amount or extent of the record-strip wound upon roll J at each actuation of lever O, a stop Q, may be provided to limit the extent of movement of said lever O. This stop may be made adjustable in any suitable or convenient manner-as, for instance, by mounting the same upon a slide R, operating in a groove in the surface of the table, as most clearly shown in Fig. 3--and, if desired, said stop may operate in connection withagraduated scales. (SeeFig. 1.) Thus by setting the stop Q at any desired point the lever 0 may be limited in its movement as desired to regulate the amount of record 5 strip or paper rolled from the supply-roll and wound upon the receiving-roll at each actuation of the lever.

In practice we prefer to arrange the brackets H on the under side of the table A, as shown, and the rolls J K are arranged in parallel relation with respect to each other and with respect to the front and rear edges of the seat or depression B in the top surface of the table. 3

Suitably journaled in brackets H at the re spective ends ofthe seat or depression B and.

extending parallel with such ends and transversely of the table A are rolls A B, constituting, respectively, supply and receiving rolls for a strip or sheet of carbon C, said strip of carbon passing from the supply-roll, as A, through the slit or opening G at one end of the seat or depression B, thence over the surface of said seat or depression and overlying the record sheet or strip L, thence through the opening or slit F at the opposite end of the sheet or depression, and thence to and upon the receiving-roll B. Any suitable or convenient means may be employed for effecting a proper travel of the carbon-strip when desired or necessary for presenting a fresh surface of the carbon. A simple construction is shown for accomplishing this result, wherein the roll B is provided with a hand-crank D, (see Fig. 2,)by which said roll may be actuated whenever necessary or desired to efiect an unreeling of the carbonstrip from the supply-r0ll and the winding of the same upon the receiving-roll.

Of course it is obvious that any desired width of record and carbon strips or sheets may be employed and that the slits or openings D C will correspond in length to the width of the record-strip L, while the slits or openings G F will correspond in length to the width of the carbon-strip C. It is also obvious that the widths of the record and carbon strips may be the same or of any desired relative proportion.

In practice we prefer to provide the edges of the depressed seat B with overlying pro tecting-strips, (indicated at E,) said protecting-strips forming guide-flanges for receiving and guiding the edges of the carbon and record strips, thereby preventing buckling of such strips during the operation of the machine, and hence insuring a plain smooth writing-surface.

It may be desirable to provide means whereby it may be readily determined when it is necessary to present a new surface of the carbon. We have shown a simple and con.- venient arrangement for accomplishing this purpose, wherein we provide a strip or sheet of glass (indicated at F) as a covering for the beveled surface E, said strip or sheet of glass being retained in place by the edge strips E and bya retaining-strip G. By this arrangement the record-strip after being drawn from the position occupied thereby when receiving an impression from the carbon. will be exposed to view through the glass strip F, thereby disclosing the character of such impression and enabling the operator to determine when the carbon has been suflicientl y Worn to require the presentation of a new surface, such new surface being readily presented by manipulating the handcrank D upon the carbon-receiving roll. If desired, the retaining-strip G may be provided with a projecting edge H, as clearly shown in Fig. 4, which serves the double purpose of aguide for the edge of the carbonstrip 0 and also a stop or gage for the original way-bill, bill of lading, or the like to be copied, thus enabling anoperator to secure comparative uniformity. v

Having thus described a construction and arrangement embodying the principles of our invention, We will now describe the purpose, function, and mode of operation thereof, supposing the parts to be initially in the respective positions thereof shown in the draw- IIIOS.

TA way-bill, bill of lading, original recordsheet, or the like (indicated at J, Fig. 1) is placed in position over the depression or seatB and over the carbon-strip O and underlying record-strip L, it being understood that the carbon surface of the carbon-strip is presented toward the upper surface of the underlying record-strip L. The desired entries are now made upon the sheet, way-bill, bill of lading, or the like J with a pencil, stylus, or other similar or suitable device. or writing has been completed, the original sheet, bill, or the like J is removed and lever O is rocked, thereby winding the record-strip L upon its receiving-roll and carrying the surface thereof (which has received a duplicate or copy of the entries made on the original sheet J from the interposed carbon-strip) out of underlying position with reference to the carbon-strip, thereby presenting a fresh surface of the record-strip to the carbon for the next succeeding entry or copy and exposing the written surface through the glass strip F to the inspection of the operator, and by suitably adjusting the stop Q the extent of movement of the record-strip will be regulated, thereby economizing the record-strip to suit the extent of copying entry made thereon. The above operation is then repeated as'often as desired and until the succeeding record-surfaces of therecord-strip through the glass F indicates the necessity for renewing the carbon surface, whereupon the hand-crank D is actuated to move the carbon-strip, so as to present a fresh surface thereof.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that we provide an exceedingly simple apparatus for accomplishing the desired results and wherein the work of making copies of way-bills, bills of lading, or other desired memoranda is greatly facilitated, thereby reducing the amount of labor required in large offices-such as railway-offices, express-offices, and the like-or in stores or other places where it is desired to preserve copies of entries or other writings. The machine has few parts to get out of order, and the parts are simple in construction and arrangement and can be readily repaired or renewed when desired. The supply and receivin g rolls for the record and carbon strips may be made readily removable from their bearings in brackets H for renewal purposes.

When the entry This removal may be effected in many difierout ways. A convenient and simple arrange ment is to provide one of the hangers or brackets for each of the rolls with an inclined slot or groove (indicated at K, Fig. 5) in a wellknown manner, by which one end of said roll may be detached from its bearing by moving said roll laterally, whereupon said roll may be detached from its other bearing by an endwise movement, as will be readily understood.

A device or machine such as above described can be constructed very cheaply and economically and requires no special skill or knowledge to manipulate or operate the same.

Having now set forth the object and nature of our invention and a construction embodying the principles thereof, what we claim as new and useful and of our joint invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In a carbon copying device, a table having a seat or depression in the upper surface thereof, and openings therethrough at the sides and ends of the seat or depression in combination with receiving and supply rolls arranged in parallel relation with respect to each other and at opposite edges of said seat or depression, and adapted to receive thereon a record-strip, said record-strip intermediate said rolls passing over the surface of said depression or seat, and transversely-arranged receiving and supply rolls located adjacent to the ends of said depression or seat, and adapted to receive a carbon-strip, said carbon-strip intermediate said rolls being arranged to operate over said record-strip, and means for actuating said rolls, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a carbon copying device, a tablehaving an extended flat top surface and a seat or depression formed in a portion of such surface and openings formed through such tabletop adjacent to the edges and ends of said seat or depression, guides arranged along the edges and ends of said seat or depression, receiving and supply rolls arranged in parallel relation beneath the table-top and adjacent to the slots or openings at the edges of said seat or depression and adapted to receive a record=strip, said record-strip intermediate said rolls operating through said edge slots or openings and over the surface of said de pression or seat and having its edges guided by the end guides, and transversely-arranged receiving and supply rolls arranged adjacent to the slots or openings at the ends of said seat or depression adapted to receive a carbon-strip, said carbon-strip intermediate said rolls operating over the surface of said depression or seat and 'said record-strip, the edges thereof being guided in said edge guides, and means for actuating said rolls, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a carbon copying device, a table having a depression or seat in the upper surface thereof and having slits or openings therethrough at the ends and sides, respectively, of said seat or depression, in combination with means for moving a record-strip through the slits or openings and over the surface of said seat or depression, and means for moving an overlying carbon-strip through the slits or openings at the ends and over the surface of said seat or depression, the side walls of said seat or depression forming a limit-stop for a loose way-bill or the like, whereby succeeding bills or the like are always brought into the same relation with respect to the carbon and record strips, as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In a carbon copying device, a table having a seat or depression in the surface thereof, and a beveled surface at one edge of said seat or depression, and having slits or openings therethrough at the edges and ends of said seat or depression, means for moving a recordstrip through the slit or opening at one edge of said seat or depression and over the surface of said seat or depression and through the slit or opening at the other edge of said seat or depression and over said beveled surface, and means for moving an overlying carbonstrip through the slits or openings at the ends of said seat or depression, and a transparent top or cover arranged over the beveled surface and underneath which the record-strip passes after receiving an inscription, as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In a carbon copying device, the combination of a table having an extended plain fiat top provided with a seat or depression therein, said seat or depression provided with a beveled surface at one edge thereof, said table having slits or openings therethrough at the edges and ends, respectively, of said seat or depression, receiving and supply rolls arranged in parallel relation and adapted to re ceive a record-strip, said record-strip inter mediate said rolls passing through the slits or openings in the edges of said seat or depres 'sion and over the surface thereof and said- JAMES L. CALHOUN. WILLIAM H. CALHOUN.

Witnesses:

F. A. BARR, G. F. HUTCHINSON. 

